Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

I'm having a well earned rest as I've done some hard graft today. I don't think I need to worry about putting on weight over the summer holiday as I'm not staying still for long enough 🤣.

First thing this morning DH and I loaded up the car with DS1's old futon chair 🛋. It's a metal frame and really thick mattress which came with his study bunk and is really heavy and bulky. It must be over ten years old as DS1 is 27 now and the frame is a real dust trap while the mattress is stained and yukky. DS1 only used it as a depositary for clutter so we all decided it had to go. We took the futon chair, three fence posts and a fabric bag full of garden waste 🌿(they're still not collecting it where I live) to the tip. It was great to get rid of it all and come back with an empty car. I love going to the tip 😁. DS1 has a nice big space in his room now where we can try and acquire some storage for him, which will be a lot more useful.

After recovering from the tip trip, I went into the garden to move back the bigger shrub 🌳. I dug out all the soil around it and DH helped which I was pleased about as it really was hard work 😓. Eventually we loosened it enough to get it out of the ground, worked out where the middle of the border was, dug a new hole and replanted it. The shrub looks a lot better now as it was really close to the patio before and was leaning forward in a weird way (it was probably growing sideways to get some light as the ex-hedge was growing all over it).  Both shrubs in that border are upright now and bang in the middle of the border, so they look much better and should help them to flourish 🙂 (if it doesn't kill them to be moved!). Clearing up took forever as I dug up lots of stones, bits of pot, granite chips, lumps of concrete and even bits of plastic. So I had to separate all that out and sweep the soil back into the border. I keep the granite chips in case our wall needs mending and the stones and pot shards are useful for drainage, but the rest is garbage. I always think clearing up is almost as hard as doing the job.

I feel shattered now but I'm pleased with what we've achieved 🙂. I'm going to sit on the sofa for the rest of the day now as I feel like I deserve it. I wonder how many calories I've burned. My Fitbit does record calories but only in relation to steps I think and I've only done 6,511 steps so far today, but I reckon I've burnt about a zillion calories with all the digging, soil spreading and carrying furniture around.

I hope everyone in Forumland is having a good Tuesday 🙂.

beanielou

You have been a very busy bee!

elizabethhull

I think you'll deserve a rest !

It's amazing how satisfying going to the tip is (sorry - 'Council Amenity !!). From packing the car, to finding the right recycling container for everything, to hurling it in, to driving home in the empty car, to looking at the lovely spaces you've released, so much fun and it's all free !!!

jwil

Well done on achieving all that!  I've got to move a shrub too, I haven't got a clue what to do without killing it.  I've been putting it off for weeks.  Must try and get on with it!

beanielou

 So would not have a clue either!!

HairyHandofDartmoor

elizabethhull said:

I think you'll deserve a rest !

It's amazing how satisfying going to the tip is (sorry - 'Council Amenity !!). From packing the car, to finding the right recycling container for everything, to hurling it in, to driving home in the empty car, to looking at the lovely spaces you've released, so much fun and it's all free !!!

That's why I love it too

HairyHandofDartmoor

jwil said:

Well done on achieving all that!  I've got to move a shrub too, I haven't got a clue what to do without killing it.  I've been putting it off for weeks.  Must try and get on with it!

beanielou said:

 So would not have a clue either!!

It depends upon the size of the shrub, but you need to dig deep enough and wide enough around it to keep the root ball as intact as possible. It's hard work but I decided to set the whole day aside to do it and take plenty of rests inbetween. In actual fact I finished by lunchtime, but it was quicker because DH helped (Beanie, you'd need help I think).

Sun_Addict

Sounds like a lot of manual labour there HH, but very productive. Hope you’re having a well earned rest now.

foxgloves

Go you, HHoD! That was a really industrious day. I need one just like that today, as didn't achieve much yesterday. You are right about step counts. Some activities will be burning more calories than a basic steps/calorie equation shows. For example, I've been doing a simple 10-min aerobic walk video. It is fast-paced & involves upper body movements plus knee raises & a few crunches but of course it only shows up on my fitbit as numbers of steps. So I like to remind myself when I've done the video that I've probably burned a bit more off than the numbers show.
Reading about your decluttering has motivated me this morning. 
F x

Willowtree222

Sounds like you have had a nice week. 
It is awkward when people aren't following the rules the same and you are put in that kind of situation. 
Hope you have a lovely day. x